The beating of Edgar Vera by police officers in Allen, Texas is another sad story about how some police officers often abuse their powers.
Vera, a father of two, is brain-dead and in a coma in a hospital bed after an alleged incident with police that occurred in the 1500 block of Mahogany Drive where police attempted to arrest Vera on a traffic warrant. According to reports, a struggle between Vega and police occurred after the attempted arrest and police contended the use of pepper spray on Vega was necessary to control the situation. After the scuffle, Vera was rushed to the hospital and has been in a coma since the incident. To this date, the police department is refusing to release 911 information or any other details to the family about events that allegedly could have contributed to Vega’s condition.
Family members have protested and are crying out for justice, but little has been done by police to provide answers or ease the tensions and burdens on the family.
This recent report appears to underscore a growing problem that appears to be an increasing problem in the Metroplex. In other cases, a man and woman in Fort Worth died in separate incidents after being tasered by officers who were trying to apprehend them. In Austin, a family is seeking justice after an unarmed man was shot in the back by police. In another case, a Black man was coming out of a store and was assaulted by police who thought he was part of a group that was protesting. He was just simply walking across the parking lot. He was roughed up and taken to jail without as much as a reason for why he was being arrested. Just north of Dallas in Carrolton, a policeman used profanities and threatened to use force on an African American citizen during a traffic stop. The citizen was not wanted and was cooperating with the officer at the time of the stop.
Cases and complaints have been filed and piling up in departments across this state involving officers using excessive force, tasers, pepper spray and even using deadly force. The issues in these cities and others raise serious questions about whether police have “chips” on their shoulders. It also seems that their alleged “rage,” brutal treatment and harsh words are targeted at African Americans, Hispanics and other minorities. It is alarming that as crime rates increase, that citizens too have the additional worry of attacks at the hands of police in places like Allen, Fort Worth, Highland Park, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and numerous other “po-dunk” towns that never reach the state and national headlines. There is something wrong with this picture when innocent civilian citizens are exposed to abuse, hurt, harm and danger at the hands of those who are suppose to protect and serve. The television show “Cops” is meant to entertain, but it gives a mini-bird’s eye view into the kinds of abuses and treatment citizens receive at the hands of the law and how with cameras turned off, it could escalate into a deadly encounter. An official from the LULAC organization said that it is very difficult to convict police officers and when that is combined with the loyalty of ‘The Shield,” justice and truth for the victims and families does not seem to be the greatest priorities when a loved one is hurt or killed by police. A member of a “street organization” told me that cops are just another “gang” running and terrorizing the streets and neighborhoods with their own form of justice in mind. He added that many can be vigilantes and retaliate against anyone at will and the citizen has little recourse. In one way, I find his words shocking, but in another way very provoking. We trust police to do their jobs within the confines of the laws we all follow. It is obvious something is occurring in police departments that chiefs in major cities, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and other cities are ignoring.
It is far worse that racial profiling. It is flat, downright abuses of the badge!!!! When you see a police car, it is suppose to be a sign of safety and security. We do not expect hidden psychological agendas, prejudices or people driving around with personal scores to settle on our streets. Police officers say they want respect. Well, the best way to do that is to respect the total rights of citizens and not overreact to every situation. Escalating a situation, hurting or killing someone or making things worse because you have a badge is uncalled for and disrespectful. I know there is a lot of pressure fighting crime, but that does not have to boil over into the lives of innocent people like Mr. Vega.
I just wonder, how many more Mr. Vegas are out there in the African American and Hispanic communities that are suffering because police failed to respect the most basic rights to enjoy personal freedoms in this country. As a veteran, who served this country, it hurts me to think that this “freedom” that everyone talks about here in America is nothing more than “controlled access.” At any moment, the police or government can “access your life,” pull privileges, limit your options and change your life and future forever… It’s a scary thought. Vega was indeed a victim of a racist city politics and policies that tee off on people whose skin is not white and who do not live in their posh multi-million dollar mansions. He was minding his own business like so many of us. He had hopes, dreams for his children in America and worked hard trying to help them have a better life.
It is a shame that this father was cut off from his life, family and future, because a racist citizen, living in a racist city, who called a racist police department to do its bidding on its racist streets.
However, to be fair, Allen Texas and Collin County is like many other places across Texas. It is not a stranger to mistreating Blacks and Hispanics just because we are different. (not white) To the white residents in Allen and other cities like it across Texas, African Americans and Hispanics don’t all fit into one Jell-O mold. We should be able to venture into your neighborhoods or businesses without being targeted for torment, death or terrorized by your own personal demons, stereotypes and prejudices. It is time to face the facts that some of those who take oaths to protect and serve actually are going far beyond the norms of law in restraining and detaining citizens. As the casualties, injuries and death tolls mount in these cases, when will the public demand accountability and say no more!!! Investigations by the Texas Rangers and monitoring by the FBI is not enough. Vegas’s life is one life too many. The policies of abusing citizens and profiling minorities must stop now in police departments across Texas. There must be accountability and officers must be held to the same codes of justice and law that the average Joe is required to uphold.
The sad part about the whole situation is without changes, the public someday is going to say enough is enough. If and when that occurs, the streets won’t be safe for anyone … and you know what I mean.